MN Woman Fired From Job After Posing For Playboy

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Kasson, Minn. woman is suing her employer after claiming she was wrongfully fired for posing for Playboy, according to a complaint filed in Dodge County on Tuesday.

The complaint states that Jessica Zelinske applied for a casting-call session with Playboy Magazine in January of 2011. She was accepted and then scheduled to pose for the magazine on April 14-15 in Chicago, Illinois.

A few months prior to the shoot, Zelinske said she asked her supervisor at Charter Communications if posing for Playboy would violate the employee handbook or compromise her employment with Charter.

The complaint states her supervisor promised that if she posed nude for Playboy, her employment would not be terminated.

Based on that promise, Zelinske went to the shoot and was informed that she would be published in the Playboy Magazine to be released on July 28, 2011.

In September of 2011, Zelinske was told by her supervisor that the human resources supervisor for Charter Communications was on the phone and said Zelinske’s choice to pose nude in Playboy violated Charter’s common decency and conduct policy.

Zelinske was then fired.

Zelinske claims that because of her termination, which had been based on a trust that she would not be fired if she posed for the magazine, she’s suffered damages of more than $50,000.

Zelinske is also claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress, saying the act of breaking that promise and firing her after saying her job would be safe was extreme and outrageous. She claims the defendants are liable for that emotional distress and is asking for at least $100,000.

Her lawsuit against the company seeks at minimum $150,000 total in compensation.

Charter spokesman John Miller said the company will not comment on the lawsuit.

“We cannot comment on pending litigation, however, Charter complies fully with all applicable employment law and denies any wrongdoing,” he stated.